Cucumber
Classic Nordic trick-taking game. Match or beat the highest card or play your lowest, and avoid winning the critical final trick.
How to play
2 to 6 players are dealt 7 cards each from a 52-card deck. Suits do not matter.
To a trick, you must play a card equal to or higher than the highest card played so far, or you must play your lowest card.
The highest card (last played if tied) wins the trick and leads to the next trick.
Only the 7th (final) trick scores: the player(s) with the highest card receive penalty points equal to the card rank (Ace = 14, King = 13, etc.).
When a player reaches the target score (default 30), the game ends. The player with the fewest penalty points wins!
About Cucumber
Cucumber (Agurk) is a classic Scandinavian trick-avoidance game for two to six players played with a standard 52-card deck. Seven cards are dealt to each player, and suits are completely irrelevant. Each trick, players must either beat or match the current highest card, or dump their lowest card. The winner of each trick leads the next. Crucially, the first six tricks carry zero score: the game is decided entirely on the seventh and final trick, where whoever wins the trick takes penalty points equal to the card rank. Exceeding 21 total penalty points knocks a player out.
Cucumber at a glance
| Players | 2–6 players |
|---|---|
| Type | Table game: play online with friends, or with bots in any seat |
| Family | Trick-taking |
| Bot levels | Easy, medium and hard |
| Options | Penalty Target: 30 or 50 |
| Turn timer (online) | 30 seconds |
| Cost | Free, no download |
Tips for Cucumber
- Save your lowest cards for the critical seventh trick so you are not forced to win it with a high card.
- Dump your intermediate cards (7s through 10s) on early tricks whenever you cannot safely beat the leader.
- Track which Aces and Kings have already appeared to know when your remaining high cards will be forced to win a trick.
Questions about Cucumber
How many people can play Cucumber?
Cucumber is played by between 2 and 6 players. Real players and bots can share a table, so a game can always start even if you do not have enough people.
Can I play Cucumber against the computer?
Yes. Pick easy, medium or hard bots and start straight away. Bots only use what a player in their seat could see, so they cannot peek at your cards.
Can I play Cucumber online with friends?
Yes. Create a private room and share its code, or join a quick match. If someone drops out mid-game, a bot takes over their seat.
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